Selector conveyer apparatus



Jan. 23, 1951 FORSE 2,539,013

SELECTOR CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 T E S MIR/Pr 0. HR 56 NVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan 23, 1951 H. D. FORSE 2,539,013

SELECTOR CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM) 0.- Fomss 1 VENTOR. BY 5m ATTORNEY.

Jan. 23, 1951 H. D. FORSE 2,539,013

SELECTOR CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fiYRRYQ FOFSE //VENTOR. BY pm ,%Vu

ATTORNEY.

Jan 23, 11951 H. D. FoRsE SELECTOR CONVEYER APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 9, 1946 him/er H 5255 4 ;$yENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 23, 1951 D. FORSE SELECTOR CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 23, 1951 U N IT ED STAT ES PAT ENT F FICE- 2,539,013 SELECTQR CONVEYER- APPARATUS Harry D. Fors'e, Anderson, 1nd.

Application August 9; 1946, Serial No. 689,616

1 Claim. 1.

Various kinds of selector conveyor apparatus and marking devices for identifying the articlesof different customers have from time to time appeared on the market. The apparatus and devices had for their primary object the proper reassembly of each customers goods after washing,v ironing or other processing had been completed.

In thepresent-invention one of the primary objects of advantage: and importance isthe provision of means for designating an itinerary dur ing' the initial sorting and classifying of the articles of each customers bundles and of con trolling'the movementof the articles through the various portions of the designated route to afinal assembly station. During the progress of any article, or bundle of articles, over the designated route it may be automatically discharged from the conveyor at one or more designated processingstations.

A- iurther object or" importance and advantage is to provide a simple, eiiicient and foolproof method and means forclassifying, identifying and routing customersbundles in batches ofa given number from a receiving zone to a. final as sembly zone and of permitting bundles of one batch only to be discharged at the final assembly stations during such run. For instance,v if during the running of one batch, a bundle from a second batch approaches the final assembly zone it is automatically discharged front the conveyor before reaching. its final assembly destination.

A.- turther objectof importance of the improved apparatus of this invention is the provision of means for. designating a plurality of stations at which a-bundle is'to bedischarged from the. conveyor and of: manually adjustable means forselectively discharging thebundle before it reaches its designated final station.

Still another object of advantage and, importance resides in the provision of means whereby the initial classifying operator routes the; bundles, to designated processing stations at. which they are automatically discharged for processing, and to a final destination for inspec tion and packaging, at a single preliminary op.- eration.

An additional object of importancev is the provision of means for providing an automatic discharge conveyor apparatus of a relatively few and simple cooperating parts which require a mini-- mum of attention, servicing or adjustment. Moreover, coacting parts are designed to be factory adjusted to insure proper functioningandto obviatehaphazard and faulty installation.

Additional objects of advantage and importance will become apparent as the following dei d; description v1ir ar ssesr eif r nce being ad h m ne dr wi s whe n u e 1 is aa lsvat m w e o a fra ent portion of a selector conveyor apparatus which embodies the invention Figure 2 isa vertical. section: taken online 0t Figure 1 looking in the direction indicatediby. the arrows Figures 3 and 4 are elevatignalviews, of the trip mechanism showing its movement to inefi e ppin positiom Figure 5- isan end view, partly; insection o fethe. conveyor. and. ri a me han m m fully lustrated inFigure-G',

Figure is n an; or a Portion. f;- he improved conveyor and. driving rnecha nism therefor, portions being-broken away.

Figure '7 is a. front; eleyational View ot a trip;

plate upon which. locations for the various trip pins areindicat ed Fi ure 8 is w de e eva ion; Vi w a Pe of theimproved conveyon including a portion of;

a collective: selector station and a; final assembly trip station, portions being; broken away.

F r 91 a r c sec ion; of; a s erri actuator takenon line 9----$i of Figure; 8 looking in thedire tionind atedbr the ows;

Figures ndr lare from ler QimlW 1 selector trip plates; showing trip pins insome of the variouslocations.

Figure 12 is: a.f;ront; elevationalview'o f afinal assemblytripplate, v H

Figure 13 showsa slightly rnodifie'd form of, the invention: as. app ed toimo ra lqqrlvsyq Figure- 14 is a vertical section taken onli ne i l-.44; of Figure: 13, looking. inthe direction in dicated: by: the arrows.-

Figure 15 is; a: vertical section taken on, ling;

l5=t5: of Figure 13- looking-in, the direction indie catedby the arrows.

Figure. 16 is afron-t elevationalview 0t ani den tification disk holderwithiaplurality of disks positioned thereon. V v

Figure 17- is a side elevational view thereo. The reference numeral- I 0 indicates generallythe mpr d e or of; t e esent invertin r e ed mbo im nt i the i v ntion;

the conveyor l0 includes apair of spaced rails- IT supported; by brackets: t2; which in; turn; are susp n d f om s i Q f: r eam t Q he u able frame work. The-brackets l2 which are f actoryformed to. accurately control the lateral. and vertical spacing, and positioning of the. rails; it, may besecured to theI-beams l3, or other frame- IK in an ita le. m an 1 Formedoi?'theupper porti n ofcertainbracket's I2 is a plate-like portion l5 to which a selector trip mechanism I6 is fixed. The trip mechanism I6 is preferably factory fabricated to accurately position the parts and also to prevent tampering and misalignment during installation and use as will hereinafter more fully appear. The trip mechanism includes a brushoif plate H which is pivotally secured as at l9 to a boss 26 depending from plate l5. The lower portion of the brushoff plate I"! is bifurcated, as is best shown in Fig ure 2, and the forked portions 2| extend to a point slightly above the plane of the parallel rails The brushoff plate I! being pivoted at' l9 may be rotated from a vertical position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to the angular position in which it is shown in Figure 4.

Adjustably secured to the rear surface of each brushoii plate I! by centering screws 22 extending through bosses 23 is a trip plate 25. Suitable lock nuts 26 are provided to prevent rotation of the centering screws 22 so that once adjusted the trip plate 25 is secured against lateral displacement. 1 The trip plate 25 may be rotated from the full line position in which it is shown in Figure 1 to the dotted line position shown in the same view or to the positions in which it is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8, for purposes hereinafter more fully disclosed.

Projecting rearwardly from the upper portion of each trip plate 25 is an arm 21 to the outer extremity of which a' roller'29 is operably attached. The arm 2'! and trip plate 25 form a bell crank which functions as a trigger in controlling the rotational movement of the brushofi plate Fixed to the plate l5 and spaced from the boss 20 is a cam member-30.- 'Th'e cam member 35 is provided with a lower cam surface 3| which terminates in abutments 32 and 33 and an upper cam surface 35. The roller 29 function as a cam follower and during 'its engagement with cam surface 3| operates, upon counterclockwise rotation of plate ii, to rotate plate 25 counterclockwise relative to plate I 1 until movement of both plates is arrested by engagement of the roller 29 with the abutment 33. The engagement of the roller with cam surface 35 functions to maintain theplate 25 in its counterclockwise limit position during rotation of plate H for reasons hereinafter more fully explained, Certain of the cam'm'embers 30 are provided with --manually actuated means for rendering the roller '29 ineife'ctive to engage the cam surface 3| or the abutments 32 or 33. This comprises a bell crank 34 pivoted to the cam 39 and rotatable upon handle 38 being depressed, to move the roller 29' clear of the camv 30. Notches 38a in the handles 38 and engageable with the plate |5 or the member l3 provide a means for securing the bell crank 34 in one of its limit positions. These certain cam members 3U c omp'rise a selector 39 which is positioned ahead of the final assembly zone.

Riveted or otherwise afiixedto each trip plate 25, at any of the positions indicated by the cross lines'35 in Figure 7, is one or more trip pins 3?.

The pins 3'! in each trip plate 25 are arranged in different positions or combinations to designate different stations or classifications of goods, For

instance pins 37 located in the uppermost row of cross lines 35, as shown in Figure 7, indicate a primary station or classification of goods to be discharged there: Pins located in the second row of cross lines 36 as illustrated in Figure 7, indicate an" intermediate processing station: Pins located in the third row, as illustrated in Figures and 11 indicate the hundreds digit of the final'assembly member and these plates are positioned on selector discharge units shown in Figure 8, imme diately ahead of the final assembly stations: Pins locate-cl in either of the bottom two rows, as shown in Figure 12, indicate the last two digits of the final assembly number. The pins 3'! are disposed to extend between the tines of the bifurcated portion 2| of the brushofi plate H and therebeyond asis clearly shown in the drawings. It is to be noted that movement of the pins 37 to the right, as illustrated in Figure 3, will cause rotation of the trip plate 25 and movement of the roller 29 from engagement with the cam surface 3| thereby permitting rotational movement of the brushoif plate'il to the position in which it is shown in Figure 4.

Operably positioned on the rails ll of the conveyor NJ is a plurality of carriages ill which are joined one to another by suitable links 4|. The links 4| are preferably joined one to another by pivot pins 42 which have portions 43 adapted to be engaged by driving members 45.

Each carriage 30 comprises a drop axle 46 upon each end of which a rail engaging wheel 4'! is journalled. The ends of the axle 45 extend through the wheels 4'! and provide an attaching boss to which the link members are aifixed as is clearly shown in the drawings. Projecting upwardly from the control portion of each drop axle 45 is a box 49 which carries a horizontally disposed stud 50 which is adapted to receive and carry a selector identification disk 5|, Fixed to the axle 43 on a plane below and to one side of the stud 50 is a pin 50a. The pin 50a extends parallel to the stud 50 and functions in a manner hereinafter more fully disclosed. It is to be noted that the axis of the stud 58 is on a plane with the axis of the bearing portions [-f the axle 46 and also that the ends of the bifurcated portions 2| extend below this plane, consequently the ends of the members 2| may exert a centered straight line thrust upon the selector disk 5| to force it from the supporting stud 5|].

The selector disks 5| may be formed of any suitable material or shape and also may be colored or marked or both for easy identification. Each disk 5! is provided with an aperture in which securing means, such as a safety pin 52, or the like, may be removably positioned and to which articles may be detachably secured. A relatively large aperture 53 is provided whereby the disk 5| may be positioned on a stud 5B, and a somewhat smaller aperture 53a is located in each disk 5| slightly below and to one side of the large aperture 53, which in addition to cooperating with pin 50a to prevent misalignment and rotation of disk 5| also prevent a reverse application of that member to the stud. Additionally, the disks are provided with other apertures 55, in any of the locations shown by dotted circles 56 in Figure 2, to indicate classification of the articles carried and the destinations therefor The disks 5| are made up in groups of a given number wherein each disk thereof is provided with similarly located apertures designating a final destination at which the disk 5| will be discharged from the carriage 40. This similar arrangement of apertures 55 corresponds to the last two digits of the final assembly number marked on the disk and is confined to the two lowermost lines of circles 56. The circles in the third line from the bottom are preferably employed to indicate the hundreds digit of the marked assembly number. However it is to be noted that the assignment of the particular assembly numbers to the variaseaora ous' combinations or: subcombinations of aperturesemployed is arbitrary. The fourth row. of cir cles from the bottom of the disk is preferably for instance white, colored, silk, wool? or the like, with the su-ifixwash understood; which classification may be marked on the disk as shown in Figure 2, The lowermost aperture- 53a is positioned to register with the pin- 55a: only when the disk is presented with the proper iace opposing the axle 46. If the disk 51- is reversed the engagement of the end of the pin 5fila with the surface of. the disk prevents that member from being afilxed to stud 59.

The diameter of the apertures 55 in the disks 5! is substantially greater than the diameter of" the pins 3? in order that even considerable misalignment of the parts will not impair their operating efficiency. Additionally it is to be notedthat aperture 53 alone is of suffilcient size to re-- ceive stud 50; consequently the disk 5i may be attached to the carriage 48 only in the single manner provided.

As previously stated, the identification disks 5! are made up ingroups of a given number. There are approximatelytwenty disks in each group and each has the same arrangement of apertures: representing a single final assembly number. A

holder 54 is provided for each groupmf disks and each holder has a vertical upper portion 51', simi'-- lar in formation to the disks 5i, and alower oifset portion 58' terminating in a horizontal shelf 59, as is best shown in- Figure 17 The upper vertical portion of each holder is apertured, as at 55a, to indicate a final assembly number which may be inscribed thereon. The vertical: portion of each holder 54 is also apertured to receive a stud 5i) and a pin 59a previously described to insure its proper attachment to a carriage for transportation from the receiving; station to a final assembly station.

The horizontal shelf 59-, which is approximately the same size as the disks 5!, is provided with a, plurality of i... .vardly projecting pins arranged in plan to correspond with the arrangement of tlie apertures 55a in the upper portion, of the holder 55. It will therefore be apparent that only disks having the same arrangement of final assembly apertures maybe threaded upon the pins 64 and be carried by the holder.

Positioned closely adjacentv the conveyor I 0 and paralleling a portion thereof isa drive mechanism so. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the drive mechanism comprises a driven sprocket 6i and a sheave E52 with which a drive chain 53 is operably' associated, as is best shown in Figure 6. The chain 531s provided with a plurality of driving members 35 which upon operation of the drive mechanism 60 are adapted to engage portions 43 of pivot pins 42 and thereby impart operable movement to the link joined carriages Gil. Where it is so desired a supporting and guide rail 65 may be provided to prevent sagging of the chain 53 and driving elements 45 attached thereto.

Operation In the operation of the improved apparatus This destination or an abbreviation 6 veyor extends: from a receiving zonev throng-Ir various processing zones to a final assembly zone. and return. Bundles. delivered to. the receivin zone comprise various articles which require. different processing treatment. Accordingly the articles in each bundle are divided and classified.

as. to: material and processing and are. also. given a final assembly number. Now the operator sel'ectsahol'der 54. having a complete group of: identification disks 5'! thereon- Fromv this holder the proper disks are removed to properly classify and; route the. various, articles. The. remaining disks.

' are positioned upon the holder 54. and. that memher with its load is dispatched to its final. assembly station, while the classified and tagged articles are started on their various routes.

Assume now that the batch of articles being run are all given final assembly numbers between. onehundred and one hundred ninety-nine. In this event the operator depresses the hand1e38: of a cam member of the selector having trip pins 31 adjusted to discharge disks in the one hundred group. As a result the bell crank- 34 is rotated to move the roller 25 from the cam surface 31 which now permit the brushoff plate to rotate-freely uponbeing engaged by an id'enti-- fication disk 5! regardless of the registering positions of the trip pins 31' in plate 25 and the apertures 55 in disk 5 I.

As the classifiedand tagged articles arrive at their designated processing stations the pin or pins 37 of the trip plate 25 enter a correspondingly located aperture in the disk 5 i, and the disk continuing its movement engages the brushoff plate H- which rotates slightly, thereb causing the roll r 29 to follow cam surface 38 to abut-- ment 33 which movement rotates the plate 25 and arm 27 and causes the pin to be withdrawn from its registering aperture. As the roller 29 engages the abutment 3'3 rotational movement of the plate I! is arrested and the continued movement of the carriage forces the disk 5i from the stud 50 to discharge the load for processing. Uponthe processing at any of the stations being completed the article is again attached to a carriage by the same disk to resume its journey.

When a carriage carrying a disk approaches a station not designated on the disk, the leading surface ofthe disk 5| engages thepin 31 and thereby rotates the trip mechanism lifting the roller 29 from engagement with cam 30 and thereby permits the rotation of' the plate ll as the carriage passes therebeneath as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The exception to this is that when a carriage carrying a disk having aperturesposi tioned to register with pins of a trip plate approaches a station wherein the handle 38 of the cam 30' has been depressed, in this event the brushofi' plate is rotated and the carriage and disk pass therebeneath as would be the case if the aperture and pin did not align. When the-- carriage approaches the final assembly station indicated by its disk, the pins of the trip plates enter the apertures of the disk and the load is discharged as above explained.

As each article or load is delivered to the final assembly station, an operator removes the disk therefrom and positions it upon the previously delivered holder 54. When the stacked disks 54 reach a. given point on the pins or offset portion, the operator is aware that all of the articles of the customers bundle have been delivered to the final assembly station. Consequently, the articles are wrapped for delivery and the above described, it is to be assumed that the conholder 54 is positioned on the conveyor for return to the initial station. A brushofi plate I! or other suitable device may be employed at this station to discharge the return disk holders.

Following the dispatching of the last of one batch from the receiving station a time interval is allowed for the clearing of the processing stations before a second batch is started. The same steps are now followed as previously except that final assembly numbers now range through the two hundred group and the handle of the one hundred group selector is elevated while the handle of the two hundred group selector is depressed. Succeeding batches may be dispatched as above described.

Modification The improved method and means for controlling the flow of articles to designated processing and final assembly stations is not necessarily confined to the above described type of conveyor but may be used in conjunction with other conveyors as for instance a monorail conveyor. By way of illustration such an arrangement is shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15.

In the modified arrangement the reference numeral 60 indicates a monorail track having upper and lower wheel engaging surfaces BI and 62 respectively. The track 60 may be supported by any suitable means as for instance bracket 63 which is attached to the central portion of the rail 60 by screws 65 or the like.

Secured to the bracket 63 by any suitable means is a tripping mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 66. Inasmuch as the tripping mechanism is precisely the same as the ones previously described, the description need not be repeated.

Operably positioned on the track 60 and having two wheels 61 engaging the upper wheel engaging surface 6! and one wheel 61 the lower surface 62 is shown one of a plurality of carriages 69. The carriages are spaced one from anotherand are joined by a cable 70. The carriages 69 are the same throughout so a description of one will sufiice for all.

The upper portion of the frame of the carriage is turned upon itself and spaced therefrom as at H to provide supporting means for the axles 12 of the upper wheels 61. The lower portion of the frame 69 is apertured to receive the end Number in Figures 13 and 15, and the free end thereof 7.

is provided with an upstanding boss 76. Fixed to the boss 16 and extending horizontally therefrom is a stud 17 upon which an identification disk 5! shown in dotted lines, may be detachably positioned. Secured in the stub shaft 13 below and to one side of stud TI is a pin Tia, which is substantial y identical to pin 53a in the preferre embodiment.

In the modified embodiment here disclosed the disks 5i and trip mechanism 66 are substantially identical in both construction and use with their counterparts shown in the preferred embodiment, accordingly their manner of operation and construction should be understood by reference to the previous description.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a highly efficient, simple and flexible selector conveyor apparatus which is especially adapted to control the dissemination of articles to various predetermined processing stations and then to control the reassembly of the articles at a single predetermined final assembly station. Moreover, the improved apparatus is capable of so disseminating and reassembling innumerable groups of articles accurately and dependably without any change, alteration, or adjustment in the apparatus.

As it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the improved apparatus appertains that numerous changes and widely different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that the embodiments disclosed shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. Reference is, therefore, to be had to the appended claims for definition of the limits of the invention.

I claim: In a conveyor having a plurality of discharge stations, means for controlling the discharge of,

goods carried by said conveyor at certain of said discharge stations, said means comprising a pluraiity of load carrying perforated disks removably attached to and movable with said conveyor, a plurality of pins positioned at said stations in the path of travel of said disks, certain of said pins and certain of the perforations in said disks being arranged to register to thereby cause the discharge of said load carrying perforated disks at prearranged stations.

HARRY D. FORSE.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Parce Mar. 6, 1917 Huddleston Nov. 20, 1917 Righter Apr. 11, 1922 Taisey Oct. 21, 1924 Klyver Jan. 10, 1928 Anderson Sept. 9, 1930 Jennings May 5, 1931 Hurd June 2, 1931 Gammell June 2, 1931 Regan Aug. 16, 1932 Maurer Mar. 21, 1933 Frost Sept. 3, 1935 Kumler Dec. 14, 1943 

